6.30pm 4 May 2023
Doncaster Saturday League, Division One
Pilkingtons 2 AFC Bentley development 2 (att 32)
When I first started travelling the country watching non-League football, in the late 1980s, Pilkingtons had a team in the Northern Counties East League.
They disappeared long before I was prepared to go as far as Doncaster for a team at that level, and the location of their ground remained a mystery to me. Turns out it was in Kirk Sandall, on the outskirts of the town, and this season they've resurfaced in senior football.
Stricter ground grading these days means this incarnation of Pilkingtons is unlikely to climb as high as its predecessor, but the venue is better than average for the Doncaster Saturday League.
What was the company sports ground is now the Barnby Dun and Kirk Sandall Sports Association. The football pitch is enclosed and beyond a cricket ground. The former stand has been converted as a secure equipment store, although it still provided useful cover from rain that fell during the second half.
The game had an end of season feel. AFC Bentley were apparently already secure in the play-off places (I've no idea how the play-offs work or when they'll be played) but Pilkingtons' failure to win rules them out of contention.
The home side spurned a two goal lead, having scored in each half. There was little between the sides though, and when the visitors hauled themselves back to 2-2 it was a fair outcome.
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